Are you looking for outdoor travel in Patagonia with the necessary outdoor
comfort to enjoy your hiking adventure? Come with us into a different
way of travel in Patagonia, trekking at El Chalten, Mount Fitz Roy and
Cerro Torre bases, visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier, camping and trekking
in Torres del Paine National Park (Chile) and hiking in Tierra del Fuego
National Park. In this full adventure trekking tour you will walk along
all the spectacular landscapes of Southern Patagonia, at El Chalten, El
Calafate, Paine (Chile) and Ushuaia. It's the ideal hiking tour for all
the trekking enthusiasts dedicating two weeks to travel Patagonia. If
you are coming so far away from home... it's a good idea to stay at least
two weeks out of the beaten path to enjoy trekking Patagonia trails.
Departures 2022/2023 & Prices:
15 days - 14 nights
Season: October
to April
Starts at: El Calafate
Airport (FTE). The Meeting Point for the Group on Day 1 is 7 pm at El
Calafate.
Ends at: Ushuaia
Airport (USH).
Itinerary
Day 1: El Calafate Airport (FTE) - El
Calafate
We receive you at El Calafate Airport from there you are transfered to
your lodging at the town of El Calafate, where at 7 PM the group will
meet by the first time. This is the moment when we have the guides introduction
and we talk about all the details regarding the trekking we will make.
You meet your guide and you enjoy the welcome dinner with your adventure
partners while chatting on the program details for tomorrow
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals : dinner (D)
Day 2: Bus to El Chalten - Laguna Capri - Poincenot
After breakfast we travel by bus to El Chalten, a little and colorful
town next to Mount Fitz Roy. To arrive to El Chalten we will cross 220
km (part of gravel road) through the Patagonia steppe, stopping at half
way, where a picturesque inn is located, to enjoy homemade cakes and hot
coffee. Once in Chalten we meet fellow travellers coming from up north
(Route 40). We prepare for the trekking, leaving part of our belongings
secure at Chalten, and carrying only the necessary for these two nights
where we will lodge at the campsites inside Los Glaciares National Park.
We hike up a beautiful trail next to ¨Las Vueltas¨ river that will take
us to the first panoramic views of the Mount Fitz Roy. From now on, we
will be approaching to De los Patos Lagoon and then next to the Capri Lagoon. In approx. one more hour finally we will arrive
to our camp at Poincenot. (3-4 hs approx.) The Camp has been
previously mounted, featuring spacious 3 people dome tents, used in double
or single base. Each tent has sleeping bags, inner sheet and insulating
mattresses. The camp has a large dining tent with table, benches, dishes
and kitchenware. The sanitary services are provided with chemical bathrooms
or latrine type. We leave our belongings in our tent and we enjoy an
afternoon walk to the sightseeing points around.
Lodging at Poincenot Full Camp double or single tent (rural area
- without showers).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 3: Mount Fitz Roy - De Los Tres Lagoon
Trekking. Early in the morning and carrying only your coat and the photo
camera we can try to match up the morning sunlight getting pink in Fitz
Roy granite walls. You only need this to feel the trip is worthwhile.
After breakfast, carrying only day personal items such as our polar &
wind jacket, gloves, our camera, water bottle and the box lunch we provide,
we overcome the "Chorrillo del Salto", always with the impressive
needles of the glacier in front of us. The first 2 hours are mainly flat,
through forest and open areas along Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, with
diverse bird life, until reaching Fitz Roy base, climbers basecamp on
the east side of the mountain. From here it is a 400 m/1300 ft climb to
the De los Tres lagoon on a steep trail that takes us around one hour
and a half at gentle pace. This walk is one of the highlights in Los Glaciares
National Park: Laguna de los Tres, with its zephyr blue colour, lays at
the foot of the Fitz Roy massif, offering the views of Mts. Poincenot,
Fitz Roy and the other peaks surrounding them are splendid, their needles
rise up vertically in front of us approx. 1500 m over the glaciers. Mt.
Fitz Roy, with its 3405 mts above sea level, is considered the “King of
Patagonia” and also considered one of the three most beautiful mountains
on Earth (together with Alpamayo in Perú and K2 in the Karakoram). We
return to Poincenot in late afternoon. Walking time 5 - 6 Hs.
Lodging at Poincenot Full Camp double or single tent (rural area
- without showers).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 4: Mount Torre - El Chalten
Trekking. Today we start one hour walking to the Lagoons Madre and
Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre
trail. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrubland. From the camp,
a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by morraines and with the
Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed
by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of
Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this
spectacular view. In the evening we hike back to El Chalten along Cerro Torre
trail. Walking time 3-4 Hs. to Cerro Torre plus 3-4 Hs. back to Chalten
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B) and box lunch (BL)
Day 5: El Chalten - Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
This 1500 mts mountain is located immediately south of Cerro Torre
valley and offers some of the best views over the different group of
mountains, glaciers and lakes that features the area. From the lower terraces
to the summit, you can get spectacular views of Fitz Roy, Torre and the
spectacular glacier valley in between both. From the summit the bonus is the
sight of Paso del Viento and some of the mountains that stick out from the
Patagonian Icefield. According to the group capacity, we choose the lower
terraces or try the summit, a long but gentle climb in scree. The lower part
of the mountain is covered by shrubland and forest. We are back in Chalten by
late afternoon.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner(D)
Day 6: El Chalten - El Calafate
Free day. We recommend the Optional excursions offered in the town, such as
Viedma Ice trek. Trekking on glacier, using crampons. This activity is
physical demanding, but allow us to enjoy a trek on ice and a boat trip in
Viedma Lake. Also, you can discover the town or other optional excursions with less physical effort. You can choose to explore the picturesque village of El Chalten, with the possibility of visiting The Climbers Chapel; or
the estancia Madsen, home of one of the pioneering families in the area;
or the Interpretive Center of National Parks. Or you can take optional
excursions taking a bus to visit the area of Del Desierto Lake for a short
hiking, that in spite of its name it's a beautiful beech forest surrounded
lake, with hanging glaciers in its west side and it's located 45 Km out
of town. Other options could be kayaking on Las Vueltas river or sailing
on Viedma Lake. Around 5 PM we take the bus to El Calafate, the gateway
to the huge glaciers inside the National Park, arriving there around 9
PM. Driving distance: 220 km.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)
Day 7: El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonders: the Perito
Moreno glacier. After breakfast we travel by bus, on a road that allows
us to go through the folds left on the steppe by the glaciers, to the
Magallanes peninsula where the southern entrance of Los Glaciares National
Park is located. Its major attraction is the Perito Moreno Glacier which,
because of unusually favorable local conditions, is one of the world’s
few advancing glaciers. This ice field-type glacier flows down from the
Patagonia Icefield, a big ice surface that with its 22.000 square kilometres
is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M
sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). The Perito Moreno Glacier is the only
one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. Huge icebergs
from the glacier wall collapse into the De los Tempanos Channel. The roar
of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the
channel is a unique experience. Our bus will lead us just in front of the
Glacier, allowing us to walk and view the Glacier from different viewpoints.
We return to El Calafate using a different route. We will drive 80 km
(1 and a half hour) to get and then again to come back from the glacier
across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)
Day 8: El Calafate - Torres del Paine
National Park
We depart early in the morning (around 7 AM) from El Calafate to Torres
del Paine for a 6 Hs drive through the spectacular landscape of the Patagonia
steppe following part of the legendary Route 40, to get around Sierra
de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. Choiques
and flamingos are very common in this area. Almost 4 hours from starting
our journey, we will be at the border crossing between Chile and Argentina
called Paso Cancha Carrera - Cerro Castillo. We continue until we reach
the Torres del Paine National Park. UNESCO gave to this park the World
Heritage status, due to its unique wildlife and magnificent scenery. During
our entrance to the Torres del Paine National Park, we start to see the
different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral
Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Sarmiento. A rich
wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland, flowers
and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras. We will stop
at viewpoints for short 1-2 Hs. walks, to get familiar with the landscape,
to finally reach our camp at the foot of Paine massif, after 6 hs of travel.
Lodging at Las Torres Full Camp double or single tent (with
sanitary services).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 9: Las Torres - Ascensio river
Valley
We dedicate this day to one of the most spectacular and classical trekking
in the park: the Torres Trail. Early in the morning we start walking towards
the bridge over the Ascensio river, headtrail for the world famous Paine
towers. We "warm up" hiking a steep one hour slope, ascending the slopes of
the Almirante Nieto Mount, bordering the Ascencio river, to get inside the
valley itself, a narrow "V" shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine
massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and
comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those
not willing to make a full day hike. But we don't recommend it as the best is
yet to come. From there the trail leads us through the beech forest walking
in a gentle slope along the river side, in the middle of unforgettable
landscapes, to Las Torres base camp. There the climbers wait good weather
conditions to climb Las Torres. We take a final climb through the boulders
of the moraine, it's one hour to reach the Las Towers viewpoint: an amazing
natural amphitheater at the bottom of the vertical granite towers with a
glacier-fed lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the
glacier and reaching 2800 meters height above sea level. The lack of breath
will be either due to the climb or the sight. We go back to our camp on the
same way we came.
Walking time: 7 to 8 Hs.
Lodging at Las Torres Full Camp in double or single tent (with
sanitary services).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 10: Pehoe Lake crossing Navigation -
French Valley
Early in the morning a 1 h drive takes us to Port Pudeto to board the
catamarán that crosses lake Pehoe twice a day. We cross sailing 45 minutes
the Pehoe Lake and arrive at the Pehoe Refuge area in the far side of the
lake. We leave unnecessary items in our tents and walk from there until
reaching Del Frances (French) Valley. It’s a beautiful mountain valley
descending from the middle of the massif towards the Nordenskjold Lake.
Flanked by The Horns to the east and by the impressive Paine Grande (3050
meters/10006 ft) to the west. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and
lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 hs and a half of continuous ups and downs,
to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breathtaking location is at
the foot of both the 2700 mts south east face of Paine Grande (to the west)
and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east.
We continue ascending the valley walking 1 hour further by Italian camp until
we reach the upper viewpoints located in a natural amphitheater
surrounded by some of the most wonderful needles and walls of the massif:
Cuernos, Espada (Sword), Mascara (Mask), Hoja (Blade), Aleta de Tiburon (Shark
Fin), Catedral (Cathedral), Fortaleza (Fortress) and Paine Grande. The forest
and the suspended glaciers that cause continuous ice and snow fallings, give
us a unique scenery to this walk. We descend the same trail and turn west
rounding Skottberg Lake until we arrive to our Camp for this night at Pehoe
Refuge area. Walking time for those who reach the upper viewpoints: 8 to 9 hs.
For those reaching the lower viewpoints: 5 to 6 hs.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (with
bathrooms/showers).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 11: Grey Glacier Viewpoints
Another unforgettable day dedicated to the Grey Glacier, impressive glacier
with 300 square kilometers of surface (115 square miles) and 25 kilometers
long (16 miles). It overflows 60 km from the Patagonia Ice Field falling into
Grey Lake. The Glacier produces enormous amount of blue icebergs that
sail over the lake pushed by the wind towards the south, given the characteristic
feature to this lake. Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges
to reach Grey valley. The trail skirts the lake, going up and down the
western slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive
sights of the Park, leading us to a wonderful viewpoint where we can
appreciate the whole lake, the glacier and the mountains that emerge from the
west of the Ice Field. From the high sections of the trail, many different
viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs
gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and
Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. Two more hours walking and
we arrive to another viewpoint just in front of the Glacier. All the trek
is done between Andean bushes and lengas forest, at the shadow of the
ice blocks that drape Mount Paine Grande. We come back along the same
trail, crossing bogs, shrublands and forest. At the end of the day we
sail back again the Pehoe Lake to the south shore and then we go to our
accommodation in Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishermen town located
in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fjord. We walk this
day about 8 hours. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our camp,
4-5 Hs.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom.
Included meals: breakfast (B) and box lunch (BL)
Day 12: Puerto Natales - Rio Grande
Long drive today, though quite worthwhile. We leave Puerto Natales down
south to reach the southernmost part of the continent, the legendary Magellan
Strait, which we will keep on sight up to Primera Angostura, where we
board the Ferry in which we will cross the Strait. This Pass, discovered to
the europeans by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520 (actually it was
discovered by the first America inhabitants 10000 years before), was
the natural and logical way to all vessels until de Panama Channel was
open at the beginning of the 20th century. You will find
yourselves wondering how those brave men dare to sail those waters
in such fragile caravels. Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of
Fire, due to the fires seen in the coast by the first european sailors,
done by the local people to cook and heat) we enter back Argentina through
Paso San Sebastián. A couple more hours to reach Estancia Las Hijas,
where our Full Camp will be waiting for us, as well as a lamb cooked in
the classical Patagonian barbecue style. A dinning saloon, toilettes
and showers are available tonight.
Lodging at Full Camp in double or single tent (with bathrooms/showers).
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)
Day 13: Rio Grande - Tierra del Fuego
National Park
In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs deal with
the sheep. By mid morning we continue south to visit Lago Fagnano in the
middle of Andes Mountains, following to our last destination: Ushuaia, the
southernmost city of the World. In the afternoon we continue to Tierra del
Fuego National Park. This National Park is in the south west corner of the
argentinean side of the Island, thus in the border with Chile. The main
attraction of the Park and the whole Island actually are the mountains coming
down to the sea. We make a short hike in this area.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom.
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B) and box lunch (BL)
Day 14: Ushuaia – Beagle Channel boat trip
After breakfast we transfer to the touristic pier and get on board to our
boat trip in the legendary Beagle Channel. We visit Alicia Island where we
will watch a colony of Sea Lions, the Island of Birds where we can see
Cormorants and the Light House Les Eclaireurs built by 1919. In addition to
the great scenery, we should see many species of marine mammals and birds. We
get back to the port while we watch the Darwin range to the West and the
Andes above Ushuaia. The Beagle Channel, in the south shore of the Tierra del Fuego Island, forms part of the border between Argentina and Chile. The
afternoon is at leisure and you can take Optional Excursions. In the evening
we enjoy our last dinner in the southernmost city in the World.
Lodging at Hostel shared room & bathroom
Lodge option: Inn Double or Single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)
Optional excursion (recommended): Estancia Harberton with Penguin colony.
(This excursion is not included in the program).
Day 15: Ushuaia City – Ushuaia Airport
(USH)
Morning at your own to visit the town, which is located in the north coast
of the Beagle channel. The town features interesting museums and its typical
architecture. In the afternoon we are transferred to Ushuaia Airport.
End of the Adventure Trip.
Included meals: breakfast (B)
Included services: Bilingual
tour leader during all the trip, trekking/mountain guide while on trek,
buses (combined private & regular), 8 nights hostel or inn and 7 nights full camping (igloo tents double base with sleeping bags, interior sheets and insulating mattresses, dinner tents with table, benches and kitchenware, cooking tent), 14 breakfast (B), 10 box lunch (BL) and 9 dinners (D), all transfers in Patagonia and trekking activities, Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion, Pehoe Lake crossing Navigation (in & out), Beagle Channel Boat trip. More information
Not included services: international and domestic flights, airport
taxes, transfers in Buenos Aires, nights in Buenos Aires, drinks, foods
not detailed, tickets entrance to 3 National Parks (5/10 u$d ea.), medical
covering, tips, optional excursions Viedma Lake and Estancia Harberton, Lago Argentino Navigation, port tax at Ushuaia, services not detailed in the program. More information
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